This was my first time conducting a research project where it wasn’t predictable lab work. It was both challenging and meaningful being the one to make the decisions about who, what, where, when and why. I really liked the naturalist-side of it, where I was sussing out patterns I saw in nature.
For my project, the challenge with implementation was that it wasn’t a private area. Gardeners came through just as I was getting ready to collect my data and they cut back all of my shrubs and flowers at the peak of blooming. Luckily, the shrubs have a long flowering season and they came back with enough vigor to get the data I needed, albeit, 2 months later. Because of this, I had to alter my strategy a bit with respect to how I allocated sun exposure values. Ultimately, it was for the better, it forced me to be more specific with the amount of sun exposure each plot received since the sun angle had changed so much over the two month hiatus.
When comparing my small-scale project with the massive research projects discussed in the textbook and in the required readings, I can certainly appreciate the challenges of ecological research. Conditions can change quickly and researches need to be adaptable and resilient.
Sounds like you learned a lot and experienced many of the challenges that come with any field study!